The unofficial online home for fans of the Kent State University Golden Flashes. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

Given tip off for Men’s BBall is five days away, thought those who want to can discuss a bit of hoops.

My five questions in the five days to tip off are:

1. Which of the newcomers do you most look forward to watching? ( All of them is a fair answer)
2. Which of the veteran players do you expect to get the Most Improved award?
3. What part of our overall game do you expect to be different?
4. Which team is the sleeper in the MAC East?
5. Which team is the sleeper in the MAC?

Five juicy questions. Jump in anywhere.

1. I liked what I read about the exhibition concerning the experienced newcomers. Kent State has had a lot of success during this run with JUCOs and transfers, and Guyton, Manns and Porrini all will play a huge role from the start.

2. He is not a veteran, but as far as returning players, I want to see improvement from Holt. He showed flashes as a freshman which is about all you expect from a freshman. With Porrini's challenge for playing time, I want to see Holt respond well and have a big year as an offensive contributor.

3. Tempo. Other than Greene, there is no guy on this team that is going to grind out baskets in the half-court. This team as long as it can score in transition will need to play at a higher tempo. It seems like an obvious statement they need to score, but they can't jack up ill-advised 3s early in the shot clock just to say they can play fast. For example, they need to turn a 3-on-3 off a long defensive rebound into a basket or foul shots.

4. I haven't read much about the MAC yet, but I think Bowling Green can be a nuisance. The Falcons might not even finish .500 in the MAC, but Scott Thomas showed at the MAC Center how dangerous he can be and living in Central Ohio, I am intrigued to see what impact their bruising freshman Sealey has.

5. We will see how much a nice second half of the season and a great performance in a MAC tourney loss to Akron did for Eastern Michigan.

1. Which of the newcomers do you most look forward to watching? ( All of them is a fair answer)

Probably Manns. Would be nice to have a shot-blocking/defensive presence in the middle. Also curious to see the point guards.


2. Which of the veteran players do you expect to get the Most Improved award?

Holt.


3. What part of our overall game do you expect to be different?

Defense -- seems like the Flashes will have a quicker team this season


4. Which team is the sleeper in the MAC East?

Not sure if they'll be any sleepers in the East. Outside of the predicted top 3 (OU, Akron, Kent), how any of other teams end up playing (good or bad) probably wouldn't surprise me.


5. Which team is the sleeper in the MAC?

No idea.

1. Which of the newcomers do you most look forward to watching? ( All of them is a fair answer)
Porrini!
2. Which of the veteran players do you expect to get the Most Improved award?
Holt (Hey, it's a point guard league, so I'll go with my first two answers.)
3. What part of our overall game do you expect to be different?
I think we will have better shooters, but that would not be hard to improve over last year when our two sharpshooters were not sharp, but they were still shooters.
4. Which team is the sleeper in the MAC East?
Miami. Some new faces including a new PG who will make an impact, plus Mavunga will be the 2nd best big man in the league.
5. Which team is the sleeper in the MAC?
CMU and young Ziegler could challenge East dominance by season's end.

1. Which of the newcomers do you most look forward to watching? ( All of them is a fair answer)
2. Which of the veteran players do you expect to get the Most Improved award?
3. What part of our overall game do you expect to be different?
4. Which team is the sleeper in the MAC East?
5. Which team is the sleeper in the MAC?
________
1. Manns. I want Manns to be the compliment in the post that Greene needs to put up monster numbers and blow run of the mill MAC post competition into the ground. Something like Q and Scott used to. I don't mean to get ahead of myself but if Kent can defend the post ANYTHING like they did with those two.....look out.

2. Holt. I think Greene and Sherman have shown that they can take over a game and are top tier MAC performers. So, MIP honors doesn't really fit them. Holt showed flashes last season and is now healthier, stronger and more mature. I think the ceiling is high for Randal Holt.

3. Transition. If Kent State can get out on breaks and FINISH them I think we could see some high flying action that has been missing from the MAC Center for a few years now.

4. The University at Buffalo. Their frontcourt has talent and experience. Watt, Robinson and Alston can play. Lets see if the guard play develops.

5. This is a tough question. Aside from Buffalo a couple that I feel are flying under the radar are EMU, Akron and in some ways, KENT STATE!

(11-07-2010 08:03 PM)FlashFan Wrote:  Given tip off for Men’s BBall is five days away, thought those who want to can discuss a bit of hoops.

My five questions in the five days to tip off are:

1. Which of the newcomers do you most look forward to watching? ( All of them is a fair answer)
2. Which of the veteran players do you expect to get the Most Improved award?
3. What part of our overall game do you expect to be different?
4. Which team is the sleeper in the MAC East?
5. Which team is the sleeper in the MAC?

Five juicy questions. Jump in anywhere.

1. Manns.
2. Holt.
3. Better frontcourt play with Manns replacing Parks and being a better plug on defense. Better PG play with a healthy Holt, Sherman and Porriri (forgive me, I'm sure that misspelled).
4. Miami, because they always seem to be pretty good even when the talent doesn't seem to be there.
5. Miami.

(11-08-2010 02:05 PM)axeme Wrote:  4. Which team is the sleeper in the MAC East?
Miami. Some new faces including a new PG who will make an impact, plus Mavunga will be the 2nd best big man in the league.

Just curious, who do you have as #1? Greene? Jarrod Jones? Washington?

I started to answer, but my answers were going to either be the same as everyone else's or admit ignorance.

BTW - I think you'll find Miami actually has *two* new PGs who will both make a difference.

Asking me? Justin Greene will be the best big man in the MAC.

Regarding the guards, I want to see Holt or one of the newcomers to be an offensive force. Did I miss something on Gaines? I saw he did not play in the exhibition.

I think Sherman is best as a defender and a guy who keeps the ball moving on offense. Especially when Singletary was out of the game last year, they used Sherman as a playmaker/scorer and that is not his best role.

(11-09-2010 10:07 PM)KStud Wrote:  Regarding the guards, I want to see Holt or one of the newcomers to be an offensive force. Did I miss something on Gaines? I saw he did not play in the exhibition.

I think Sherman is best as a defender and a guy who keeps the ball moving on offense. Especially when Singletary was out of the game last year, they used Sherman as a playmaker/scorer and that is not his best role.

Some players were suspended for some off-campus party where things ran amok. I don't know if Gaines was one, but that may explain why he didn't play.

Sherman didn't play last year. Do you mean two years ago?

bopol, Sherman did play last season, all 34 games.

KStud, I think Holt will be an offensive force. Geno thinks that Holt is our best shooter and with Porrini looking like he can run the point with the best of them (at least through one exhibition game haha) Holt should be freed up to be a big scorer. I also agree that Sherman is a great defender but while he may not be best as a scorer I would say that he's definitely a playmaker. Just my opinion though.

Only 3 days!

(11-09-2010 10:39 PM)2thaker8 Wrote:  bopol, Sherman did play last season, all 34 games.

KStud, I think Holt will be an offensive force. Geno thinks that Holt is our best shooter and with Porrini looking like he can run the point with the best of them (at least through one exhibition game haha) Holt should be freed up to be a big scorer. I also agree that Sherman is a great defender but while he may not be best as a scorer I would say that he's definitely a playmaker. Just my opinion though.

Only 3 days!

I'm struggling with mighty confusion.

(11-09-2010 08:20 PM)etc Wrote:  

(11-08-2010 02:05 PM)axeme Wrote:  4. Which team is the sleeper in the MAC East?
Miami. Some new faces including a new PG who will make an impact, plus Mavunga will be the 2nd best big man in the league.

Just curious, who do you have as #1? Greene? Jarrod Jones? Washington?

I started to answer, but my answers were going to either be the same as everyone else's or admit ignorance.

BTW - I think you'll find Miami actually has *two* new PGs who will both make a difference.

#1 is Greene, clearly. I have seen all of the above play numerous times, and I think if we are picking sides, most coaches would take Greene as well, if they had first pick. I think Mavunga is improving, though, and will prove to be better this season than Jones or Washington. What Greene gives you is high points and rebounds every night, and the others have been much more inconsistent. Charlie says he's the best big man in the conference. Who am I to argue with Charlie?

As to the Miami PG situation, I think there is a big difference between Rollins and McHenry. Q. Rollins has the potential to be a top flight non-scoring PG in the MAC--a nice commodity especially for a team that has been forcing SG's into playing PG for years. McHenry seems to me to be a serviceable backup. I can't see him being one of Miami's best 4-5 players this year, and Rollins should keep on the bench next year for sure. I saw QR at Wilmington a couple of times, and he is a polished handler and distributor.

I think Miami will be challenging as one of the top 3 teams in the East this season. Under the radar. Again.

All four who didn't play didn't play for disciplinary reasons.

Here’s what Geno thinks:
Geno's Thoughts About This Year's Flashes

1. Which of the newcomers do you most look forward to watching?
Manns. A defensive presence in the middle can change a game.

2. Which of the veteran players do you expect to get the Most Improved award?
Holt

3. What part of our overall game do you expect to be different?
They will be a more creative team with a lot of guys who can handle the ball.

4. Which team is the sleeper in the MAC East?
Miami

5. Which team is the sleeper in the MAC?
Central Michigan